Cajun Country

Food! Food has been a key part of each day during our adventure—not just any food, but Cajun food! Crawfish, ettoufee, jambalaya, dirty rice—these are all terms we knew. File, roux, the trinity, corn macque choux, and boudin were all revelations to us.

Music! What a special beat Cajun music has! From enjoying a story-telling fiddler to listening to accordion virtuosos to learning the Cajun Waltz and the two-step, music was a big part of this program. We had the opportunity to try our newly-learned steps to the lively beat of a Cajun band, and it was a hoot to watch the REAL pros—the natives—get up and show us how it was really done. Of course, we had two left feet but toward the end we were finally feeling the beat—yes, feeling the beat but not always stepping to it.

Field Trips! How invigorating it was to see the wildlife on Lake Martin! Although this may have been a favorite, we also took other field trips to absorb the culture of Cajun Country—Shadows on the Teche mansion, McIlhenny Company (Avery Island—tabasco factory), and the folk life village. We were immersed in the culture of the region.